Working for Christians (1 Timothy 6:2)

1 Timothy 6:2 – Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.Teach and urge these things..

I’ve seen it before. I’ve probably done it before. But I know that it is despicable. What? 1 Timothy 6:2 reminds us that we ought never use the faith of another believer to empower us to treat them with less respect than they deserve.

Paul is writing to Timothy about all sorts of life issues when he turns to the issues of masters and their servants. He commands servants to serve their earthly masters well. Then he calls Christian servants not to shirk work on their Christian masters simply because their masters are Christians. Paul can picture the servants rationalizing, “Well, he’s a believer. He will give me grace. He won’t fire me. He won’t punish me. He has to forgive.”

So, with this verse in mind, let me call us to something here. Christians, serve everybody with true character and righteousness. Do your work well. And if you are serving believers, serve all the more. Do not devalue somebody simply because they are a part of your family in Christ. Instead, work even harder for believers so that you can display your love and respect for them as children of God. Let us show the world that we truly love one another and are truly Jesus’ disciples (John 13:35).